Electric regulator.



L. L. TATUM.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, m4.

Patented June 13, 1916.

mi/WWW UNITED STATES PATENT oErToE.

LEWIS L. TATUM, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIG-NOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. (30., F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC EEGULATon.

clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric regulators.

'In certain instances, as in the lighting systems of interurban cars Where the voltage fluctuates, it is desirable to employ volt age regulators to maintain a substantially 1 constant current in the lighting circuit, although it is unnecessary to provide for a fine degree of regulation.

This invention has among its objects to provide a simple and efficient regulator for the aforesaid and other purposes.

A further object is to provide a regulator which will avoid the necessity of differently adjusted relays.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawing diagramatically illustrates the preferred form of the invention, but it should be understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The regulator illustrated is particularly applicable to lighting systems and is shown as regulating the current of a bank of lamps L.

The regulator consists of a plurality of electro-responsive relays 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 responsive to variations in the lamp current and controlling respectively resistances R, R R R211 and R in circuit with the lamps. In practice, any number. of these relays may be employed according to the range of current variations to be rectified.

The relays each consist of a normally closed switch with a solenoid S for opening the same. The solenoids of all butthe last relay are each provided withtwo windings s and 8 which act cumulatively. The solenoid of the last relay is provided with but a single winding 8. The windings s constitute the operating windings and are all set to respond at uniform current values 66 and to release at uniform current values.

variations in voltage.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 191$.

Application filed May 2, 1914. Serial No. 836,6Z4. I

They are, however, so controlled by the relays as to insure against response thereof except in progression. The windings 8 constitute holding coils to retain the relays in open position. They are all normally .inert and are energized progressively by the re lays to render their respective relays less sensitive to current variations or substantially insensitive.

The operation of the regulator will be best understood from a specific description of the circuit arrangement illustrated, which is as follows: Current is supplied to the lamps and to 'the regulator windings from lines 7 and 8, which, it may be assumed, are connected to any suitable source subjectedto With. the relays in normal position current flows from line 7 by conductor 9 through the winding, sof

relay 1, thence by conductor 10 through said relay 1, by conductor 11 through relay 2, by conductor 12 through relay 3,'by conductor 13 through relay 4, by conductor 14 through relay 5, byconductor 15 through relay 6, by conductor 16 through the lamps .L, by conductor 17 to line 8. Under these conditions it will be observed that all of the resistances R, etc., are excluded from circuit and that all of the windings of the relays,

with the exceptionof the winding 8 of relay 1, are likewise excluded from circuit. This winding, however, is in series with the lamp and is accordingly subjected to variation in the current supplied to'the lamps.

Assuming now that there is a fluctuation in voltage causing the lamp current to exceed the value at which winding 8 is set to respond, relay 1 will be opened. This in-. serts in the; lamp circuit the resistance R and the winding 8 of relay 2. Under these conditions circuit may betraced from line 7 by conductor 9 through winding 8 of switch 1, by conductor 18 through resistance R, by conductor 19 through winding .9 of relay 2, byconductor 20 through relay 2 and thence through the remaining relays and the lamps, as already traced. Insertion of the resistance R of coursetends'to rectify the current of the lamp circuit. If it accomplishes this then no further operation occurs, and if the current decreases abnormally then the winding 8 allows the relay 1 to return to normal position and exclude the resistance It and winding 8' of relay 2 from circuit. If, however, the relay w sensitive to current reduction.

1 fails to rectify the current variation or if the current increases subsequent to the response of the relay 1, then the winding 8 of relay 2 will respond and open the latter. Relay 2 in responding functions similarly to relay 1, as above described, that is, it in- "through resistance R and winding 8' of relay 2 to conductor 20, as described, thence by conductor 11 through the winding 8 f of relay 1, by conductor 21 through resistance R by conductor 23 through the winding 8 of relay 3, by conductor 24 through relay switch 3 and through the remaining relays and the lamps, to line 8,

as previously traced. Thus the relay 2 per- I forms a three-fold function: First, it tends to rectify the current increase b the incluslo'nof the reslstance R? an remalns sensit ve to a decrease In current. Second,

it renders relay 3 sensitive to further rectify the current increase or to rectif a subsequent current increase. Third, y conneTting the winding 8 of relay 1 in circuit, it increases the holding power of said relay and thus reduces its sensitiveness to negative current variations. Relays 3, l, 5 and 6 upon responding function similarly to the relays 1 and 2 in inserting their respective resistances in series with the lamps and in connecting the operating winding of the next succeeding relay in circuit. Further, relays 3, 4, 5 and 6 each function similarly to relay 2. in energizing the holding coil 8 of the next preceding switch. It will thus be seen that upon response of each relay its'succeeding relay will be rendered sensitive while all of its preceding relays will be insensitive. On the other hand the dropping out of any relay restores the sensitiveness of its preceding relay and excludes the operating winding of the succeeding relay. Thus, at no time will more than two relays be sensitive, but of these two, one will be sensitive to positive variations of current and the other to negative "ariations of current thereby providing at all times means to meet both abnormal conditions. It will further be seen that this arrangement enables like adjustment of all in the current of said circuit and'means including auxiliary holding windings for cer-. tain of said devices to provide for operation of said devices progressively upon reduction in the current of said circuit.

3. In combination, a translating circuit, a plurality of regulating resistances therefor, a plurality of controlling switches for said resistances, each of said switches being provided with an operating winding a d certain of the same being also provid d with auxiliary cumulative windings, said operating windings being of substantially uniform adjustment and responsive to positive current variations in said translating circuit, and inter-connections whereby the auxiliary windings are included in and excluded from circuit sequentially to provide for operation of said switches progressively under negative current variations.

4. In combination, a translating circuit, a plurality of electro-responsive regulating devices therefor having their windings subjected to the electrical variations in said circuit and being substantially uniformly adjusted for control of said devices and interconnections for said devices whereb not more than two of the same are sensitive at any time and whereby such two devices are sensitive to positive and negative variations respectively.

5. In a regulator, in combination, a plurality of progressively acting electromag netic switches of substantially uniform adjustment for operation thereof, each of said provided with a cumulative auxiliary wind mg, inter-connections whereby the operating windings of all but the first sw'tch are each controlled by a preceding swit and interconnections whereby the auxiliary windings of all but the last switch are each controlled by a succeeding switch, to provide for progressive operation of said switches in response to both positive and negative variations in the current to which their windings are subjected.

In a regulator, in combination, a plurality of electro-responsive regulating de vices, all but one normally insensitive, and lnterconnections for said devices whereby each is rendered sensitive to positive electrical variations upon response of a preceding device and is rendered substantially insensitive to negative variations upon response of a succeeding device. I

7 In a regulator, in combination, a plurality of electro-responsive regulating devices of substantially uniform sensitiveness to positive and negative electrical variations, and means insuring response of said devices progressively and automatically reducing the sensitiveness of each to negative variations upon response of'its next succeeding device.

8. In a regulator, a plurality of electroresponsive regulating devices interlocked for progressive response thereof, and holding coils for a number of said devices, each of said coils being energized upon response of the device succeeding its respective device.

S). In a. regulator, in combination, a plurality of electro-responsive regulating devices each being provided with an operating winding and a number of the same being I each provided withan auxiliary winding ing of the first switch being normally excluded from circuit, and interconnections between said switches whereby the first upon responding includes in circuit the operatin winding of the next succeeding switch an whereby each remaining switch upon responding includes in circuit the auxiliary winding of its next preceding switch and the operating winding of its next, succeeding switch.

11. In combination, a translating circuit,

a plurality of resistances for series connection therein, a plurality of progressively operating switches for controlling said resistances and normally disconnecting all of the same from circuit, each of said switches being provided with an operating winding and each butthe last being further provided with an auxiliary cumulative winding, all of said windings being adapted for series connection in said translating circuit but only the operating winding of the first switch being normally included in circuit, and interconnectionsbetween said switches whereby the first upon responding includes in said translating circuit one of said resistances and the operating winding of the next succeeding switch-and whereby each ofthe remaining switches upon responding includes in the translating circuit another of said resistances, the auxiliary winding of its next preceding switch and the operating winding of its next succeedin switch.

In witness whereof, I have ereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS L. TATUM.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH EBERLY, L. A. WATSON.

Gapiaa at thla patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commiifloaer of Patents, Washington. D. 0." 

